Even the prospect of paying higher taxes for two more years was not alarming enough to get voters out to the polls on Tuesday in significant numbers.

But many people in San Bernardino County followed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lead and skipped the polling places and mailed in their absentee ballots.

The county has 806,589 registered voters and about 294,000 ballots were mailed out. As of Monday night, more than 95,000 ballots have been returned. Once Tuesday’s mail is factored in, that number will likely rise to more than 100,000 ballots.

Low voter turnout seemed to be a trend throughout San Bernardino County.

“We’re hoping for 20 percent turnout by the time we’re done certifying,” San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Kari Verjil said.

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